There is a meme that I saw on social media a couple of months ago that brought tears to my eyes. I saw it on my dad’s timeline, but I am not sure who originally posted it. I wish I did, so I could give proper credit. See the picture below. Depending on how we look at it, it can be sad, but it also can be beautiful. Overall, this meme reminds me of some important things.

The meme reminds me that life is short. I have a friend who passed away from sarcoma one week after her thirty-fourth birthday. I have a sister who didn’t reach her fiftieth birthday. I have a nephew who passed around his twentieth birthday. And it seems that when we blink, a decade goes by. Yes, life is definitely short.

I don’t say this to depress you, and I am sorry if it does. It’s just that this meme also reminds me of the importance of living our days with intention. Every day is a gift. We should enjoy life. But we also should put God in first place and love those who God put in our path. We should spread the love of Jesus to those around us. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring (Proverbs 27:1), so we should be quick to share the gospel. And we should always be ready for the day when we will meet Jesus (Matthew 25:1-13).

But this meme also reminds me of something very beautiful. While this life is temporary, we also have an eternal home to look forward to. As children of God, we are citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20). Jesus called heaven paradise (Luke 23:43). In heaven, our bodies will be transformed (Philippians 3:21). God will wipe away every tear. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain (Revelation 21:4). We have eternal life to look forward to (John 3:16). God will dwell with His people (Revelation 21:3). This means that if you are His, then He will dwell with you. And this also means if your loved ones are saved, they will be there too. Heaven will have many mansions and Jesus is preparing a place for us (John 14:2-3). We’ve heard it said, and perhaps we thought it was a myth, but there really will be pearly gates and streets of gold (Revelation 21:21).

As children of God, we have so much to look forward to. When we depart from this earth, it is not the end for believers. It is the beginning to an infinite life, where we will praise and worship the King of kings and the Lord of lords. The things we suffer through on earth will be nothing in comparison to the beauty we find in heaven, when we see the Lord’s glorious face. As the old hymn goes, “When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be. When we all see Jesus, we’ll sing and shout the victory.”

© 2021 Bridget A. Thomas